Skies of Arcadia Recruiting and OOC

[Ieniemienie]

That's cool. I just wanted some really out there race so I can match it with my under-developed class optimization-fu

[Sinfire Titan]

Sinfire . . .

. . . d00d.

Yes, YOU can handle optimization.  Not worried about YOU!  More just wondering why the guys with the best stuff get MORE presents!   

This just damps down on the effectiveness of other characters, and yes, WILL make the Warblade/Egoist feel small in the pants next to pets.  In fact, the very fact that you say "they're not overpowered compared to a NORMAL CHARACTER" should make you wonder why one class should have the equivalent of a SECOND CHARACTER as a CLASS FEATURE - in ADDITION to being able to change forms and CAST SPELLS.  It was bad enough when Druids just got a free class feature that out-classed the Fighter in the party - once you add superior stats, feat control, and extra feats from flaws, you've got an ELITE, PC-level powered thing added on to the abilities of a class that already out-ranks everybody else in d20.

Thass juss WRONG, mang.   

Oh, and Druids are better suited to seafaring than, like, anybody.  EVAR.  What with the companions being able to be flying or floating, so to speak, and able to use the environment FAR more effectively than most characters, they are plenty able to adapt - more so than pretty much anybody else.  Flying?  Well, so does my companion!  Swiming?  My companion swims!  Wheee!

But hey, it's your bag.  I think the only reason I tweaked was that Druid are so superior to begin with, that adding rules that made them even MORE superior seemed . . . excessive.  It kind of cuts down on other characters' abilities.

I could use my infinite damage trick on a DFA Gestalt, if you let me.  That'd improve my mood just fine!  Heck, it only works if the target doesn't have energy resistance and is within 30 feet once I end my move . . .

 

I'll try to up my game a bit.  You've made me want to rise to the challenge!   

What did you think of my Know-bot?  Like?  I have loads of ideas, so think of him as only one of a HOST of possibilities.

The stats for PCs can become far above the standard Elite Array thanks to FP, as can their HP. As to the outshining a player, remember that none of them get FP, they are stuck with their Int scores (and thus limited by it, no out-thinking an Int of 16 with a Riding Dog, please) and they cannot take class levels (unless they are Cohorts). I do see the point of it being more potent than a PC, and I do reward players who tone their characters down with the intent of allowing each player their fair chance to shine (the less optimal your character, the more FP you recieve). Obviously, there is a limit to the ammount of optimization allowed, and to the ammount I can reward you for holding back a little.

In short, the less you optimize, the more I can loosen the reigns and let you play freely rather than build encounters meant to challenge you.

As to your build, see my above post.

[Llochlyn]

Just to know, would you take a look at the Chronomancer when you got some time (:-\) ?

I'll work on this and another variant at the same time, so whatever your decision is, I'll be fine

[NineInchNall]

Sinnie, I refer you to my earlier questions. ()

1. Is the Society Mind fair game?
2. Is the Wild Reaper variant druid from Dragon #311 fair game?

[Sinfire Titan]

Society mind is great in large parties, and in Gestalt, well, you never feel lost (like you sometimes do when playing a single classed one).

Given the writers, you can be sure there's no balance issue with this one too

Bkdubs is an author of classes that I am familiar with. Society Mind seems like a War Weaver mixed with Psion, as such i have very little reason to think it overpowered (it is a fairly solid class as is).

I'm just wondering what's with the Aggressive/Aggressive and Support/Aggressive characters? Gestalt favors Passive classes (ones that rely off of free, swift, and immediate actions) with Aggressive ones (such as casters). Duskblade/Wizard is a Passive/Aggressive build as the Duskblade is used to deliver Wizard spells instead of acting as a caster in its own right, while still retaining the ability to do combat. On the other hand, Cleric/Druid is Agressive/Aggressive, and very action-dependent. Similiarly, the Psion/PsiWar or Erudite/Warblade are both dual-aggro classes, and focus heavily on your standard actions more than your swift actions (thus requiring a heavier ammount of skill in order to play effectively). Why show such heavy action dependency with your characters?

[Sinfire Titan]

Just to know, would you take a look at the Chronomancer when you got some time (:-\) ?

I'll work on this and another variant at the same time, so whatever your decision is, I'll be fine

Looking at it.

[Sinfire Titan]

Sinnie, I refer you to my earlier questions. ()

1. Is the Society Mind fair game?
2. Is the Wild Reaper variant druid from Dragon #311 fair game?

The SM is allowed, but I don't have Dragon #311, so I can't check what the Wild Reaper variant does in order to allow it. If you PM it to me, or post the abilities it grants and replaces, I'll let you know.

[Sinfire Titan]

Hail Great Sinfire for thou hast returned and brings cookies and beer everlasting joy in the campaigns to come.

When would it suit my Lord to explain the division of the campaigns and the players therein? /suckup

Those who wish to be in a specific game or setting, state which one in your next post. I'll sort through them, and post the arrangments.

[NineInchNall]

Sinnie, I refer you to my earlier questions. ()

1. Is the Society Mind fair game?
2. Is the Wild Reaper variant druid from Dragon #311 fair game?

The SM is allowed, but I don't have Dragon #311, so I can't check what the Wild Reaper variant does in order to allow it. If you PM it to me, or post the abilities it grants and replaces, I'll let you know.

I'll do so the moment I get home.  Muwa ha ha ha!  Now I have no idea what I want to play.  Nooooooooooooooooooooo!  Two good characters!

[Ieniemienie]

The symbiotic creature suddenly isn't so vile any more; radiates some holy energy, but is still a bit dark.
Enclosed plz find the Symbiotic templater without Monster of Legend

[Sinfire Titan]

The symbiotic creature suddenly isn't so vile any more; radiates some holy energy, but is still a bit dark.
Enclosed plz find the Symbiotic templater without Monster of Legend

And this is an ECL 20 build? Of nothing but templates right?

[Sinfire Titan]

Just to know, would you take a look at the Chronomancer when you got some time (:-\) ?

I'll work on this and another variant at the same time, so whatever your decision is, I'll be fine

As much as I like the content of the class, there are a number of abilities it has that unnerve me. The least of which is the ability to use Temporal Regression without XP costs as an encounter ability, there are a number of abuses that can be found with this.

But the power of the class isn't what bothers me. Its that the only setting it could possibly fit in is the Lands of Ice, as that is where the most advanced magic in the history of Arcadia can be found. But having you there, or even having your character stumble upon this kind of class' abilities is a gambit of its own, as there is only one city I can think of where this kind of ability would have come from.

Another posibility is to use extraplanar methods, but that is also tricky, especially at this ECL. I'm afraid I can't allow the class in, for reasons both aesthetic and mechanical. I understand that you want it allowed, however I feel that it wouldn't fit in the campaign even as a stand-alone class (in other words you would be playing without a Gestalt build).

I'll continue to review the class, and if I change my mind later on I'll allow you to retrain into it without penalty. But for now, I can't see myself allowing this class.

[NineInchNall]

Wow.  That was the most thoughtful and well presented disallowal of a class I've ever read.

Damn.

[Ieniemienie]

The symbiotic creature suddenly isn't so vile any more; radiates some holy energy, but is still a bit dark.
Enclosed plz find the Symbiotic templater without Monster of Legend

And this is an ECL 20 build? Of nothing but templates right?

No... the trick is that the symbiont of the Symbiotic creature template does not transfer the LA tot he Host (being the player) allowing for unlimited (if the creature type changes things get ugly) template stacking. So the entire stuff types out int he word file is all for LA +1 

[NineInchNall]

What I never understood was why no one ever notices that you can just take an epic spellcaster and make that the guest.   

[Ieniemienie]

What I never understood was why no one ever notices that you can just take an epic spellcaster and make that the guest.   

because the assumption is that a basic creature needs to be used. by adding class levels this creature is not basid any more, but advanced. by adding templates however, you create a different kind of creature of which it is the basic one. still with me?

[Sinfire Titan]

Ah, now I see where the tricks are coming from. I need to add the ECL of the guest to the Host, contrary to the RAW of the template (in that both are seperate beings, they have their own ECLs). This seriously tones it down to a playable race.

[Ieniemienie]

Ah, now I see where the tricks are coming from. I need to add the ECL of the guest to the Host, contrary to the RAW of the template (in that both are seperate beings, they have their own ECLs). This seriously tones it down to a playable race.

this pretty much eliminates it because almost all tiny races are non-pc-playable races... except the Petal, which is Cohort only or the Jermlaine, but it's a fey and doesnt qualify for the template

[DaveTheMagicWeasel]

Sinfire, is a Feral (Savage Species) Diaboli (Dragon 327) okay?

If so, I'd like to ask to change the DIaboli from an Outsider to a Fey.  Not for power reasons (imo Fey is weaker than Outsider), but just for flavour purposes - I'd like to reflavour the race as fey, who have sprung spontaneously from nature/green moonstone as defenders of the wild.  Then I'd like to reflavour incarnum, no longer as souls, but as binding the raw power of nature to my command.  With the Fey Diaboli following an Animist religion, but focused on Magical Beasts instead of animals, so you would appeal to the Purple Worm Totem in order to bind Wormtail Belt, etc

IF that's okay then I'm thinking start as a Feral Diaboli Totemist 2 // Shapeshift Druid 2, with feats as Barbed Stinger (Serpent Kingdoms), Multigrab (Savage Species) and Greensinger Initiate (ECS).  Greensinger gives me some social skills and spells for some fun out of combat.

Then continue as Totemist 20 // Druid 20 the whole way (tempted to retrain to Wild Shape, in which case pick up Natural Spell and Share Soulmeld), and ending up with feats like this:

Flaws: Barbed Stinger, Multigrab
1: Greensinger Initiate
3: Shape Soulmeld (Mauling Gauntlets)
6: Bonus Essentia
9: Greater Multigrab*
12: Double Chakra Bind (Totem)
15: Planar Touchstone (for Incarnum Domain)
18: Expanded Soulmeld Capacity

* possibly move this to earlier in the build, but I will likely need magic items to get the Dex prereq

Customary Soulmelds being Girallon Arms and Muling Gauntlets for grappling purposes, Phase Cloak/Blink Shirt for mobility, and Sphinx Claws for pounce later on.  Also picking up the Mask of the Tiger and some Serpent Armour for Track and Combat Reflexes (with large Wild Shape forms).  Basically intended as a melee juggernaut and battlefield controller.

Personality wise, I quite like the base Diaboli description - in spite of his fearsome appearance, he actually has a heart of gold.  Probably a vegan, who would ideally like to be a pacifist if only the world would let him (if I had the feats spare I might go Exalted with VoP), meticulously polite, a truly beautiful singing voice.  Similar to Chumley in the Myth books.

I dislike the Feral template at this ECL. Best to wait until 9th or so then apply the template via Retraining. I'm fine with Diaboli, as I have the Dragon Compendium (and love both them and the Tibit). I'm fine with the Fey change, but you should be aware that I'm racist towards faries. This is displayed in my hatred for most elves.

My personal reflavor of Incarnum is that it is the residue of a living being's personality rather than actual souls. Same idea in that it draws power from the spirits of others, but different feel in that it is more based on the psychic "footprints" (for lack of a better word) that creatures leave behind. If you want to reflavor it, go ahead. But I need to see the Serpent Kingdoms' text on the feat Barbed Stinger, as most of Serpent Kingdoms can be broken wide open.

Fair enough on Feral.  Definitely sets me on binding Girallon Arms for the low levels.  I can make it work - go on some sort of walkabout into the wilderness at higher levels and get in touch with my wild side.  For now, just gives me an extra level to play with

Here's the feat text:

Barbed Stinger [Monstrous]
Prerequisite: Sting attack
Benefit: You gain the Improved Grab special attack with your sting.  If you hit an opponent of any size with your sting attack, you can then attempt to start a grapple as a free actionwithout provoking an attack of opportunity.  If you win the grapple check, you establish a hold and deal automatic sting damage (including poison, if applicable) each round that the hold is maintained.

The ability to grapple creatures of any size is very useful, especially at higher levels.  Then the fact it grants Improved Grab allows qualification for the Multigrab feats (so I can grapple with just the tail at no penalty and leave other limbs free).  Then since Feral's claws also have Improved Grab I'm up to three limbs that can each grapple a separate opponent.  With Incarnum for some massive grapple modifiers.

It's one of the better grapple builds, but at the end of the day, it's still only a grapple build.  In fact, the most broken thing I could do would be Venomfire (which I have no intention of doing).  Even then, not totally set on Druid as Psywar - using the bonus feats for the Green Moon Blessing feats, with Expansion, Lion's Charge and Grip of Iron - is looking very tempting, as is Swordsage - with Crushing Weight of the Mountains for Constrict (and possible qualification for the Rending Constriction feat), Setting Sun to throw people around after they're grappled, boosts and Wis synergy.

Hmmm... looking at it, the Dragon Compendium version of the Diaboli lists it as LA +1, as opposed to the +0 from the magazine.  And if anything the Compendium version is weaker with the limit on daily uses of poison.

Could we maybe call the Fey Version a "Lesser Diaboli" and make it LA+0?  Or possibly make the Lesser Diaboli Humanoid type a la Lesser Asimar/Tiefling (nb: Humanoid would actually be more powerful than Fey imo, since it would let me use Enlarge Person for an easy size boost to my grapple checks)?  Without Outsider type I don't think it merits the LA, e.g. it doesn't have the unbalanced ability scores of the Lesser Aasimar.

And for my preferred region - Ixa'taka seems the easy answer.  But that one might end up as an all-Druid party.  I'd be quite happy coming from there and travelling to a different land personally.

[Sinfire Titan]

Fair enough on Feral.  Definitely sets me on binding Girallon Arms for the low levels.  I can make it work - go on some sort of walkabout into the wilderness at higher levels and get in touch with my wild side.  For now, just gives me an extra level to play with

Here's the feat text:

Barbed Stinger [Monstrous]
Prerequisite: Sting attack
Benefit: You gain the Improved Grab special attack with your sting.  If you hit an opponent of any size with your sting attack, you can then attempt to start a grapple as a free actionwithout provoking an attack of opportunity.  If you win the grapple check, you establish a hold and deal automatic sting damage (including poison, if applicable) each round that the hold is maintained.

The ability to grapple creatures of any size is very useful, especially at higher levels.  Then the fact it grants Improved Grab allows qualification for the Multigrab feats (so I can grapple with just the tail at no penalty and leave other limbs free).  Then since Feral's claws also have Improved Grab I'm up to three limbs that can each grapple a separate opponent.  With Incarnum for some massive grapple modifiers.

It's one of the better grapple builds, but at the end of the day, it's still only a grapple build.  In fact, the most broken thing I could do would be Venomfire (which I have no intention of doing).  Even then, not toally set on Druid (Psywar, using the bonus feats for the Green Moon Blessing feats, with Expansion, Lion's Charge and Grip of Iron, is looking very tempting).

Hmmm... looking at it, the Dragon Compendium version of the Diaboli lists it as LA +1, as opposed to the +0 from the magazine.  And if anything the Compendium version is weaker with the limit on daily uses of poison.

Could we maybe call the Fey Version a "Lesser Diaboli" and make it LA+0?  Or possibly make the Lesser Diaboli Humanoid type a la Lesser Asimar/Tiefling (nb: Humanoid would actually be more powerful than Fey imo, since it would let me use Enlarge Person for an easy size boost to my grapple checks)?  Without Outsider type I don't think it merits the LA, e.g. it doesn't have the unbalanced ability scores of the Lesser Aasimar.

And for my preferred region - Ixa'taka seems the easy answer.  But that one might end up as an all-Druid party.  I'd be quite happy coming from there and travelling to a different land personally.

Ah grapple monsters. That's how to beat a Chain Tripper. Well, it helps when they don't have Improved Trip to screw your AoO over. Sure, we can make the Lesser verion. The Fey version actually is weaker if you gave them both HD (or racial weapon profs). Do remind me what the stats are on the Diaboli, just so I know what I'm getting myself into.